When A Report Is Made

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Day Hours Phone: 507-328-6400

After Hours Phone: 507-281-6248

Law enforcement agencies, child protection agencies and other responsible agencies cooperatively assess and investigate reports of child maltreatment. These agencies are best prepared to help a child and family in need of support. Law enforcement, child protection or another responsible agency will investigate the report of maltreatment. The child protection agency will offer services to safeguard the welfare of the abused or neglected child. Whether you initially report to your local law enforcement agency, county social service agency, or other responsible agency, it is possible that other agencies may contact you as they coordinate the investigation and assessment activities.

What Will Be Asked

When you contact law enforcement, child protection, or another responsible agency, the agency worker will need the following information:

Your name and phone number and your relationship to the family of child.

Where the child is now and whether the child is in immediate danger.

A description of any injuries or the present condition of the child.

A description of what happened to the child, including information about when and where the incident occurred.

The names and addresses of the child, parents or caregivers.

A report of any witnesses to the incident and the names of the witnesses.

Any additional information you have about the child, family or caregivers that may be helpful.

A description of what action the facility or school has taken in response to the incident, if the incident occurred in a licensed facility or a school.

Assessing Safety

Assessing safety is an important part of screening child protection reports. A balanced and thorough consideration of information offers more information regarding safety and danger for children and their families. Following are some additional questions you may be asked:

What in your view are the most concerning aspects of the behavior/situation you are talking about?

What convinced you to take action and call now?

How is this behavior a problem for you?

Have you done anything (besides call) to address the problem?

What do you see as the cause of the problem?\

Have you talked about these concerns with anyone else who knows the family? What do they say?

Would the family agree with your "take" on the situation?

If this has happened before, what has the family done to sort it out?

Are there times that it is not like this? What is happening or different during those times?

Are there times that the parent is not being neglectful/abusive? Tell me more about those times?

How do they usually solve this problem? What have you seen them doing?

Do they call on others to help solve problems? Who do they call?

Can you tell me anything positive about these parents?

Any positive aspects about the parent/child relationship?

This situation sounds serious. What do you think should happen? How would that solve this problem?

What would it take to make the child(ren) safer?

What do you imagine/think we should do to make the children safer?

What do you think this family should do? What are they capable of doing?

How will you know when this problem is solved?

Are the parents concerned about these problems?

Do the children ever talk about what they want? What do you think they want?

When you contact law enforcement, child protection, or another responsible agency, the agency worker will need the following information:

Your name and phone number and your relationship to the family of child.

Where the child is now and whether the child is in immediate danger.

A description of any injuries or the present condition of the child.

A description of what happened to the child, including information about when and where the incident occurred.

The names and addresses of the child, parents or caregivers.

A report of any witnesses to the incident and the names of the witnesses.

Any additional information you have about the child, family or caregivers that may be helpful.

A description of what action the facility or school has taken in response to the incident, if the incident occurred in a licensed facility or a school.